Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 25: Calmly through the day

[MissConductUS]

I've started a new one. Please join us and share the boring and mundane things happening in your world. It will be calming for all.

Here is the link to the prior thread:

Come and tell me your dull and unexciting news 24: Calmly through the day

Welcome to all regulars, lurkers, and new contributors! Everyone is welcome to join.

That's a super shot of the stag, MissC.
I hope the ducklings are ok.

We've just had a downpour here. DD3 and I were thinking of heading out to Old Navy to investigate a sale they're having, but when we poked our noses out it was coming down so hard we beat a hasty retreat. We're going to try again soon.

I did some investigation of car insurance rates because I don't think I'm getting the best value with my current provider. Also decided to get rid of my landline, even though I'll lose the number I've had for decades and it's very handy for finding my phone when I mislay it twice a day.

No idea what we'll have for dinner tonight. I was considering egg fried rice, and that may well be what we'll end up eating. Eggs are so handy.

Red all the way, Silkie, though I agree it should be a dark red.

Enjoy your 4 day weekend MissC Brilliant stag picture. Reminds me of Floof leaping.

It's a deep red so inbetween those two reds I think. I always prefer dark red.

Got a Sainsburys order today and collected the George order from Asda and hoovered.

Hope you get to the store and a nice dinner Math

Floof is just trilling non stop again. He seems to be the world's happiest cat and just needs food and attention to be happy. He likes attention so much he trills if you cuddle him in his sleep and wake him up. He wants to play games all the time atm. And keeps going like this. Though he is making the carpets tabby with all his fluff.

Math, if you're shopping for insurance, try Amica. We've been with them for decades. They are top-rated by Consumer Reports for customer satisfaction. They don't sell through agents; they sell directly. Usually the insurance agent gets a 20% commission. Amica pays you the commission. We get a nice check every year when the insurance renews.

They're also a mutual company, meaning they're owned by their policyholders, so they're a bit less mercenary than most. The name is short for American Mutual Insurance Company. Ring them on Monday and they'll give you a quote. You might be able to get one through the website. The customer service is excellent.

https://www.amica.com

I was lucky to get that picture of the stag. The lobster dinner was fabulous, and I didn't have to lift a finger. 😀

Amazing stag picture MissC! Glad you have a nice long weekend. Hopefully the weather is ok and the smoke clears.

Our dishwasher is not working. Tomorrow it’s going to rain so we are going to try to fix it, and build a new chest of drawers for DD.

I think I’m going to drop out of my summer college course as I just can’t keep up. That would give me back my weekends. It’s at a community college and I’m hoping they’ll let me restart it in a future semester.

You’ve got to make sure it’s working for you ZZ it’s so important to get the balance right. If you can bank the credit so far, so much the better. As frustrating as my course can be, it is funded by my work and technically I can have release time to complete it, I haven’t needed it yet but it’s good to know it’s there.

Have had a far from dull weekend, but am concluding it with some assignment work, which is suitably boring/calming!

Hope the rain cleared some of the smoke, Math and that it works out for you re the course ZZ.
Miss, how lucky to have been able to grab your camera in time!

My Canada Day dinner didn't go quite as planned. I was going to make pesto salmon, potato salad, yellow beans and cake for dessert. Was out at farmer's market and park with Havoc late morning to early afternoon the took advantage of Havoc's very long nap to do same once we were home. Woke up very late afternoon and opened freezer to begin dinner - no salmon. So, prawns, sun-dried tomatoes, cream and linguine it was with steamed yellow beans on the side and cake for dessert. Cheeseburgers tonight as I am NOT (not, not, not!!!) grocery shopping again so soon when I was just at Costco on Friday night and Farmer's market yesterday. Not.
The cake was delicious, btw.

Hope you’re not flooded Math. I thought we’d had a lot of rain but y’all have crazy amounts there!

Had cahms home treatment team in today only for 10 mins but DS managed OK, he ignores them but at least isn't scared of them.

Head from school has been in touch, provisional visit tomorrow after school if DS is up for it. Cahms have organised a call for Wed as they expect him not to make it. We tried giving him school uniform yesterday and it disappeared but have located it under his bed.

One of the organisations involved is withdrawing from today which is good as less people and less meetings. Now it cahms, Maudsley, EHCP and potential new school which is great and also still have access to hospital psychiatrist. They are all great apart from EHCP people.

DH has gone to piano lesson and will pick up Thai meal I ordered on way back. I am having sweet and sour king prawns with sticky rice. DD will have Pad Thai veg and DS will have a yellow chicken curry and Jasmine rice and got veg spring rolls to share. DH is doing his usual I am having nothing which means he is taking some of everyone else's apart from DD - fine by me as I don't want too many calories. DS is eating loads now, DD was complaining he keeps eating anything she buys if she doesn't eat it immediately though its all paid for by us. Bit of gardening done and more hoovering and trying to work out PIP etc.

Thanks for the Amica tip, MissC. I'll try them.

ZZ we ended up with almost 9 unbelievable inches of rain.
Having a perfectly fine day today with little puffy clouds floating in a blue sky, and you'd never guess the backyard was the back pond last evening.

Thanks Havoc- I had started to have a look and was thinking along those lines. We are staying not too far from Canada Place.
Food sounds lovely Silkie.
Miss what lovely wildlife around you!

Yikes! I will stop complaining about our sauna-like conditions here. Glad you’re ok.

Crikey, nine inches of rain! That's Hurricane level precipitation. We've had some thunderstorms here, but nothing unusual.

A prior employer of mine has terminated their pension plan so DH and I spent a good part of the day filling out the forms to get my benefit paid out in a lump sum.

DS has gone to a pool party in Connecticut to see some friends from uni, and DH made pizza for dinner. We will pick blueberries tomorrow morning if it's not raining.

@Sprouts you can't go wrong, really. If you just have a day I'd make the most of the downtown area. Gastown is another option. Lots of restaurants as well. Some shopping - Fluevogs would be my pick. I took a great aerial yoga class at Tantra Fitness in Gastown.
I also like Joe Fortes restaurant on Thurlow and Thierry on Alberni for coffee/pastry. ☺️
Honestly, so many places. If you have any q's just ask. 😊

Thank you Havoc! One more question - any restaurant recommendations near Robson street?
Math did you have any flooding?

Having a catch up and cup of tea with sleeping baby on my lap. In dull news my cherry tree (about 8 years old) has about a dozen cherries on it, twice as many as last year
I need to move and get some jobs done before he wakes up 😔

We are picking blueberries to celebrate Independence Day. This farm is about 60 miles north of us in horse farm country. There are lots of Christmas tree farms up here as well.

Happy 4th July America pals!

Thanks, Helena! I live in an area rich with Revolutionary war history, so I regularly drive past those battle sites. I used to attend a church with French soldiers who fought in that war buried in their cemetery.

You Brits can relax - it wasn't an amicable divorce, but all is forgiven and we still love you. It's a shame George III was such a nutter. With a better King on the throne, we might be a Commonwealth country.

Hope MissC, Math and Zz all had a good Independence day.

Just back from swimming, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room, did 106 lengths and then we went to McDonalds but they forgot our order and took an hour, gave us free chips and free apple pies. I didn't mind too much as was drive through and in car so just chatting to DH.

DS was supposed to visit Headteacher today but he was too scared to go but did listen to messages and stayed calm and he has put the Economics book I got him by his pillow so hopefully reading it.

Talking to cahms tomorrow. Got quote back for ladies painting our house, doors and windows at end of summer and its fine so agreed.

Floof keeps jumping on my bed and very cuddly and very wanting to play games and non- stop trilling at times.

Sprouts, Joe Fortes, is one block off Robson on Thurlow. It really is my go-to. Fresh oysters and a martini or seafood platter and cobb salad or a steak. It's all good but make a reso.
Banana Leaf on Robson at Denman for Malaysian is very good. Robson, the few blocks near Denman, is full of asian restaurants and I'd check any of those out. Have had good Korean somewhere along there, but can't remember which one...between Cardero and Nicola though.
When I google map the street and look at everything I'm like, oh that place is good/ that place looks good.
When will you be here? I'm going downtown next week and always take a walk around to check things out. There are a couple Italian restaurants I like but it's been ages - before covid- so want to walk by before I suggest.
But my top ones are ARC across from Canada Place and Joe Fortes. Been to ARC for lots of special dinners including Christmas one year. Have had lots of lunches, after work Friday night martinis etc and dinners at Joe's.
When I drive downtown I always spot places to try. So many have popped up! Then there's always Japa Dog on Burrard a block off Robson for a Japanese inspired hot dog...

Happy 4th USA friends. Just watching celebrations on CNN - you sure know how to celebrate 🥳

Fabulous thank you Havoc! We will be there end of July. Joe Fortes looks good!
Sounds a lovely evening Silkie.
Just mustering the wherewithal to go swimming myself, then need to go shopping......

Hope you had a lovely time swimming Sprouts and the trip sounds amazing.

Just had one meeting with cahms today and we've jointly put in a suggestion to school and LA. A bit nervous what reply will be but Head is e-mailing me every day and care so much.

Having home made veg lasagne for dinner. Had a toasted ham and cheese sandwich for lunch (Floof gets big eyes with these loves ham) and some cherries.

Fingers crossed for the reply Silkie.

We had beef tacos for dinner- hadn't had them before so really enjoyed them.

Chicken in black bean sauce with veg and rice tomorrow I think. I saw a chef on Instagram mentioning that she cooked her rice in coconut milk so may give that a go tomorrow.

Hope everyone enjoyed the celebrations Stateside!